“Also, for the record, do yourself a favor and don’t ever compare me to any other men in your life. I’m already running a mental tally of your transgressions worthy of the consequences we spoke about. Don’t make me add comparisons to inferior beings to the list.”
I couldn’t help the smirk that my lips formed. “Inferior beings?”
He nodded while placing his glass back down on the table. “Any man who has had the pleasure of dating you and let you get away is clearly inferior to me. I learn from other people’s mistakes instead of making my own.”
Though the restaurant’s dining room was dimly lit, the candle at the center of the table, clearly shone his face. The darkening of his eyes had my breath catching in my throat.
“You … are intense,” I pushed out in an almost whisper.
He shrugged. “It runs in the family, I guess.”
“Your brothers are this … excessive?”
He tipped his head. “Father as well. My mother never stood a chance.” His mouth was shut but his eyes held a promise in them.You don’t either,they said.
I peeled my gaze from his and took another sip of my wine. I was feeling hot, and I was certain it wasn’t due to the effects of the alcohol.
“You’re the youngest of four, right?” I questioned, trying to steer the conversation into safer territory.
“That’s right. I knew you’d been researching me.”
I waved him off, gazing out into the distance of the dining space. “Who hasn’t heard of the Townsend dynasty? It’s no secret you’re one of four and your second oldest brother took over Townsend Industries once your father stepped down. That was an eventful day in the market.”
He leaned in. “Was it?”
I nodded. “Oh definitely. I was new to my job as a financial advisor atPortland Banking.”
“One of the largest investment firms in the country.”
“Yup, and I had about six clients then. They were calling nonstop that day wanting to know if their mutual funds had invested in Townsend Industries, and if so, they wanted to know if it was still safe.” I shook my head. “Everyone knew the new CEO had worked at Townsend for years but he hadn’t let on to his plans for the company. Was he going to expand nationally as your father had worked so hard to do, or was he going to contract? It was all a guessing game. Especially since he was so reluctant on taking interviews.”
Tyler chuckled. “That’s Aaron.”
I nodded. “I should’ve known then.”
“Known what?”
“That that world of personal finance wasn’t for me. It was too salesy. Don’t get me wrong, Iloveresearching this stuff and figuring out P/E ratios and debt to equity and all that stuff, but the average investor doesn’t need to do all that. Plus, the way they get raked over the coals in fees …”
“Is that why you’re such a Jack Bogle fan?”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Let me guess, the podcast?”
“Where else?”
I giggled. “Yes, that’s why I’m a Bogle fan. The average investor doesn’t have time, energy, or the know-how to sit and run the numbers, read all of the news on each company, and then make the right decision to time the market accordingly. No one can do that, save for the likes of Warren Buffett. Either way, I saw how streamlining your investments and finances in general was a much safer approach for the novice and average investor. Especially, for women. Don’t even get me started on the ways in which women, even today, are still being left out of the market.” I rolled my eyes.
“Finance is still an all boys’ club?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe.”
Our food soon arrived and I realized how much I’d been talking. After taking a few bites of my salmon roll, I placed my chopsticks on my plate before asking, “I’ve given you my career history, how about yours? What made you go into football?”
“It was the one thing I was good at.”
I don’t know why that comment struck me but it did. I sat up. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
He gave a one shoulder shrug. “I sucked at school. My grades were terrible. I couldn’t sit still worth a damn. Hell, I still can’t for too long.”
